Town Government
Holden Town Departments
Finding the Right Department
Most of what residents need from the town runs through a department rather than an elected official: paying a bill, pulling a permit, reporting a problem, registering to vote. Section 14 of Holden’s charter puts all of them under the Town Manager except the offices the voters elect and the ones the Selectmen or the Moderator appoint, and section 14(c) lets the Manager appoint their heads on merit and fitness alone. That is why almost none of the names below has ever been on a ballot, and why the Board of Selectmen holds one person responsible for all of them.
Holden also owns something most towns do not. Its Light Department is a municipal electric utility, one of 40 in Massachusetts, and it appears in this list beside the water division and the highway crews because that is exactly what it is: a town department. For the full list, hours and staff, visit the town’s Departments page or its staff directory. Town Hall is at 1196 Main Street.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Records, licences, vital records, the town census, and elections. Town Clerk Jeanne M. Hudson. 508-210-5532. |
|---|---|
| Light Department | The town’s own electric utility, serving over 7,600 customers in Holden and nowhere else. General Manager Barry Tupper, at One Holden Street. 508-210-5400. |
| Public Works | Streets, snow, drainage, cemeteries, and the water and sewer division that runs 108 miles of water main and four drinking wells. Director Nicholas Schwartz. (508) 210-5550. |
| Health | Inspections, clinics, and public health complaints. Health Director Trevor Bruso. (508) 210-5542. |
| Police | Public safety and non-emergency response, from the Public Safety Building at 1370 Main Street. Police Chief Timothy J. Sherblom. 508-210-5600. |
| Fire | A combination career and call department covering fire suppression, emergency medical response, technical rescue and inspections. Fire Chief Russell Hall. (508) 210-5650. |
| Gale Free Library | The town’s public library, at 23 Highland Street. Director Susan Scott. 508-210-5560. |
| Recreation | Parks, fields, the pool complex, and youth programs. Recreation Director Alexandra Connell. 508-829-0263. |
| Senior Services and Council on Aging | The Senior Center at 1130 Main Street, outreach, transportation, and programs for older residents. Senior Center Director Karen Phillips. 508-210-5570. |
| Building | Building permits, inspections, and zoning enforcement. Building Commissioner and Zoning Enforcement Officer David Lindberg. (508) 210-5540. |
| Planning and Development | Planning, zoning, conservation and economic development, staffed together under one office. Director of Planning and Economic Development David George. 508-210-5540. |
| Assessors | Property valuation, abatements, and exemptions. Principal Assessor Rosemary Scully. (508) 210-5515. |
| Treasurer and Tax Collector | Tax bills, utility bills, payments, and town cash management. (508) 210-5510. |
| Veterans Services | Benefits, claims, and services for Holden veterans and their families. Veterans Agent Vincent Scanlon. (508) 210-5529. |
Emergencies are 911. The police non-emergency line 508-210-5600 is answered around the clock, and the fire department’s own business line is (508) 210-5650.
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.